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New group; no problem for Shore
Offensive line steers Blue Devils to win
BY FRED SIEGLE • CORRESPONDENT • SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
WEST LONG BRANCH — The rebuilt offensive line looked like a veteran group in Shore Regional's opening game.
With four new starters — only Mike Mahoney is back from last year's line — the Blue Devils weren't sure what to expect from the unit. But the opening drive said it all, as the group controlled the line of scrimmage and Shore went on a 14-play scoring drive. They opened big holes for running backs on three more touchdowns as Shore beat South River 28-0 in a nonconference game on Saturday.
"It just shows what hard work can do," coach Mark Costantino said. "These are a great bunch of kids."
Matt Cooney led the way for Shore with 121 yards rushing on 15 carries. He scored twice on runs of 8 and 45 yards.
"The line made the blocks, there were huge holes," Cooney said. "We have a good offense, we expect to score a lot of points this year."
The Blue Devils also scored on a 5-yard pass from Chris Riley to Thurston Cooper, and a 10-yard run by P.J. Ermides.
The defense held South River to 123 yards of offense and registered two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Keith White's recovery early in the fourth quarter gave the Blue Devils the ball on the South River 37, but that was one of the few times the offense failed to capitalize, going four and out. But Shane Carroll's punt trapped South River on its own 7, and after the defense held again, Shore scored on it's next possession with Ermides finishing off the four-play, 40-yard drive.
"Evan (Ruane) made the hit and jarred the ball loose, and I tried to go for a scoop and score," White said. "But the turf was wet and my feet slipped. It worked out, we eventually scored anyway."
Cooney and Rich Vivian had the interceptions for Shore.
"We were being aggressive," Ruane said. "We tried to get after the ball."
"It shows how intelligent our defensive players are," Costantino said. "We kept changing the coverages, we try to disguise what we're doing a lot, and try to create chaos."